Condenser-lap machine.



Patented Aug. 6. 1912.

-11 INVENTOR lap is rolled and the splitting of the MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO KITSON MACHINE CONDENSER-LAP MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IAVEN- Coon PERHAM,

of Lowell, in the county-of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Im ro-vements in Condenser-Lap Machines, 0 -which the following description, with the accompanying drawings, 1s a specification. Like letters on the drawings denote like parts.

This invention is an improvement in condenser-lap machines and particularly in means for preventing the splitting of laps as they unroll upon the aprons of succeeding machines, such as other condenser-lap machines and carding-engines.

It relates to improvements in means for advancing-and-eompacting the fibrous ma"- terial in combination with'fiber-rearranging means whereby certain fibers are intermixed and interwoven with other fibers before 1the a thereafterprevented. Its objects are: firsg to provide a more eificient form for the forward-terminal portion of the fiber-rearranging means; second, to arran e the said portion and, especially, its fi er-rearranging elements in moreefliclent relation to the fiber advancing-and-cbmpacting' surfaces with which they co-act; third, to 'm rove the means for the attachment of the fiber-rearranging means; and, fourth,-to provide attachments for condenser lap machines such as can be manufactured and sold independently of the said machines and applied' thereto in a mill that is far-from any wellequipped machine shop and which comprise fiher rearranging means. These objects are attained by the mechanism that is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is adiagrammatic representation of a portion of Fig. 2 represents a' detail in elevation. F1 3 re resents in plan two of the teeth shown in Fig. 2. 4, 5, and Gare cross-sections taken on lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-43 respectively of Fig. 2. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent a modification. Fi 10 and 11 are cross sections taken on hncsIO-JO and.1111

bottom of trunk-cover fragments a. condenser-lap machine.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 19, 1908.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912. Serial No. 449,348.

respectively of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 represents another modification. Fig. 13 represents another location for the attachment of the Fig. 14 is a longitudinal-section along the axis of a tooth not yet sprung into its operative position.

In Fig. 1, 1 represents the forward end of a trough-bottom that is more specifically It is the called a screen or a grid..

the trough or trunk, through which the lap-forming-materials pass to-the condenser-cages 2 2. The

is represented by 3. The arrow in the trunk indicates the general direction of the motion of such materials. The typical shape of the surface of the. previously deposited mass of such materials is represented in cross-section, by the line 4 4 4, although the actual shape of such crosssection varies considerably from time to time. YVithin the trunk and approaching the surface represented by 4 4 4, are shown flying tufts or fragments of such materials. Ordinarily, together "better than such. whole tufts or adhere to one another. As such materials pass the draw-rolls 5 5 over the draw-plate 6 they are called a. sheet. The sheet is compacted by the calender-rolls 7 7 7 7, and ffinally is wound by the windingdrums 8 8 into a lap 9.

The surface represented by 4.4 4 is one of comparatively easy splitting. In the sheet, it becomes substantially V-shaped with its angle in advance and near the oenter of the sheet and with its other extremities in the surfaces of the sheet. In the lap, the outer surface splits "more easily than the inner one. Laps that contain much waste composed of tufts of straight parallel fibers,

. split very easily between or'through such tufts and easily fall apart. By my invention, I, .d isarrange such parallelism and confusedly intermix and mteiweave fibers of different tufts by dragging forward some fibers or parts of :fibers and by detaining others or parts'of others. I prefer that such rearrangement of the fibers shall occur thrpu out the thickness of the lap, that it abs. 1

the parts of such tufts adheremost effective in a series'of narrow 10'0 40 sidesand 'back' of the tooth, but which has cially so, in the outside surface of the rolled lap. I make this rearrangement more permanent by severely compacting the materials immediately after the rearrangement and before the stresses that have been pro duced during the rearrangement within the elastiemass of the materials have had opportunit to return the rearranged fibers to their original positions to any important extent.

In my improvements I utilize any usual co-acting fiber-advancing-and-compacting surfaces preferably the surfaces of the upper pair of calenderrrolls. I particularly utilize the parts. of such surfaces wherethey bite the materials and another part of the surface of one-of them, preferably the lower surface of the upper calender-roll. Preferably, I oppose to the said lower surface a series of teeth or projections situated'buta short distance apart in a line parallel to the axes of the calender-rolls and extending entirely across the machine. Preferably: the form of'the forI'ward-terminal portion of each such tooth is that of a straight piece of round spring-steel wire, having a diameter that is small as compared with the-distance between the centers of the teeth; the

tooth is directed toward the lower surface of the upper calender-roll'at a-large acute angle therewith; 'the width of the entire tooth and therefore of its back is narrow as compared with the width of the space between the centers of the teeth; the end of ward terminal part ofthe tooth and "a sharp' edge at the juncture of the end withthe lost its sharp edge by continued wear When the sheet is between the end of thetooth and the said lower surface, the end of the tooth is in close proximity to the said lower surface and is near to the fibers that are in the bite of the said pair of calender-rolls; and there/is a space between the ends of the teeth and the bite pr the rolls.

they pass along the forward-terminal portions of the. teeth and the lower surface 'of the roll; that between the lower surfaceof the advancing roll and the end of each stationary tooth the sheet is'severely comressed; that. the action of the rolls attheir ends of the-stationary teeth with portions.

'from tearing holes in the sheet.

It follows from this onstructitin;v that a series of parallel and narrow strips of the sheet are gradually condensed as portions of the tufts of which it iscom-' posed, and portions of its fibers will be more or less dragged forward or detained and the fibers of the sheet rearrangedand, that the nearness of the ends of th teeth to the fibers that are held in the bite of the rolls tends to prevent the detaining teeth sheet passes out from between the te'et-h and As the the roll and before it passes into'the bite of the rolls, it expands considerably. This expansion' aids in the rearrangement of the fibers. The compression of the materials in the bite of-the rolls tends to make thereQ arrangement permanent.

I prefer to make the end-surface of a tooth small in area and the back of a tooth narrow relatively to the width of the sheet press such teeth against 'the co-acting surface is less than if the end-surfaces had a larger area and the backs were wider, and because such teeth sufliciently rearrange the fibers. Experience has shown that,- in order to satisfactorily effect the desired rearrange ment of thefibers, the pressure with which the sheet is squeezed-between tw'obodies,

one of which advances relatively to the other, must be severe, and that satisfactoryresults can be had if the severe pressure is distinctly localized so as to affect only a very small "proportion of the area of the s-heetat a time. As the sheet squeezes'into the bite bet-ween the roll and the end of a tooth it can be subjected to a severe pres sure only when the tooth designed to severel Y resist the expansion of the'sheet in the ite. To'adapt the tooth to perform this function, it has been constructed as a straight strut from its end at the bite .to-

the point where it leaves its support, it has been given a direction nearly radial to the surface of the roll; and the severity of-the pressure of the tooth upon the sheet has teeth ---This particular point, co-Iacts-with' I between teeth, because the force re uired' to been' distinctly localized and intensified byv the rollto bitethe'sheet with greater severity thanany other point-of 'theqtooth' and is the most efficient point'ofthe tooth for the purpose of rearranging the fibers. In order -thatthe, advancing sheet may not be torn but directedinto the bite, and in order that their ends may be. neartothe fibers that are held inthe bite of the calender rolls, the teeth are not precisely radial to thesurface of the rollat-the'bite.

In my invention, the teeth: are so p re-j sented, opposed,.-and arranged relatively to the lower surface of the to 1 that the parts I of the sheet which touch and slide upon their extreme forward-terminal portions pass: first, upward-and-forward; second, across the ends of the teeth; and third, downward-and-backward as the sheet expands. Thus, these parts of the sheet change their direction through about 180 in passing the ends of the teeth. The larger the angle through which the sheetchanges its direction as it slides upon the extreme forward-terminal portions of the teeth, the more efliciently the teeth act as detainers of parts of the sheet.

I prefer that the teeth shall project from the draw-plate 6, although they may project from the screen 1, as shown in Fig. 13, or other support. The teeth fastened to their support may constitute an attachment to be manufactured and sold separately from 'the machine. Preferably, l fasten each tooth to the forward end of the drawplate separately from and independently of any other tooth. Each separate tooth with the means for attaching it to the support may constitute an attachment to be made and sold separately from the support.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 there .is represented the form of tooth 10 and the means for attaching it to the support which I prefer to use in old condenser-lap machines which operate upon a quite heterogeneous mass of lap-formingmaterialsand especially so when the machines are situated at a considerable distance from any well equipped machine-shop. The draw-plates (3 of such machines can easily be removed froln the machines and a series of small holes 12 drilled therein. Each hole should be of such size that the wire 10 will .fit easily without unnecessary looseness therein and all of the holes should preferably be situated in one straight line parallel to the center-lines of the calender rolls 7 7 7 7. The means for attaching the tooth to the drawplate or other support, which for cheapness I prefer to use in this case, is the combination of: an integral extension of the springwire tooth having the same cross-section as the tooth, having a threaded part adapted to pass through a hole 14 in a washer 11 and a hole 12 in the support, and having a portion at an angle with the threaded part adapted to be drawn by a nut into a groove 13 in the washer; a washer 11 having a hole 11L therethrongh. liming a V-shaped groove 13 radiating from the hole til, and inning three feet 15 15 15 radially \ilistant from the hole for contact with the support: and, a nut for the threaded part. The support of a tooth upon a draw-plate will he the more stable because of the feet 15 1o 15. In the preferred form. of my invention, the 1WD feet that are farthest removed from the hole through the draw-plate are spread apart to give increased stability and in the preferred size of the hole 11 through the' washer is such that the end of the tooth Will pass easily through it but without unnecessary looseness. The threaded part of the extension of the tooth preferably has the shape and location which is represented in Fig. 14 when it has entered the hole in the draw-plate and is in an nil-sprung condition. It will be observed in Fig. l4z'that the extension of the tooth 10 fits fairly well in the hole 12 of the draw-plate 6; that the extension rests in the depression 13 of the washer at its point that is radially farthest from the hole 12; but that the extension does not yet bear upon the washer in the vicinity of the holes 12 and 11. The tightening of the nut 16 will spring the extension into the position that is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, o, and (3 and into the corresponding positions that are shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 12. When the locking device or Washer 11 is cast or is made of sheet metal, I prefer to make the depression or groove 13 therein of V-shaped cross-section in order to assure that the extension shall fit well therein without the expense of fitting the groove to the extension. When the nut has been tightened and the extension sprung into permanent position, the tooth, the washer, and the.drawplate will be eli'ectually -locked together. The springing of the extension, as has been hereinabove described, is not essential to my invention but it is -in some cases preferred by me as has been hereinbefore stated.

In Fig. 112 represented a form of locking-device from which the part that contains the hole 14 has been omitted and when. the pressure of the extension against the Melting-device is sufiicicnt, the tooth will he found to be effectually locked against change of direction with respect to the draw-plate. i prefer to attach the tooth to the draw-plate; partly, because the calender-roll, which is opposed to the tooth in its action upon the cotton that passes hetwecn them. i1; :1 solid and substantial roll and well adapted to oppose the forceful pressure of the tooth: partly, because the front end of the draw-plate approaches near to the bite of the calender-rolls and for this reason efl'ectivc teeth can be made quite short; partly, because the end-surface of the tooth can be brought very near to the bite of the caleinler-rolls and fibers that are displaced by the tooth can almost immediately afterward be so bent that they will better retain their new positions; and, partly, because the trough of which the draw-plate is the bottom is open and conveniently placed and therefore the teeth can be easily reached.

Such teeth as I have herein described with the described means for their attachment are new articles of manufacture. Tl'tey can be matmfactured very easily and inexpensively. They can for a trivial sum be furnished to users of condenserdap machines who are at a considerable distance from any wellequipped machine shop and they can be attat-lied to such machines by the aid of me-- rhanics who have no great degree of skill. \Vhen they have thus been attached. they will greatly increase the efiiciency of the condenserlap machines to which they have been applied.

l prefer to apply my hereinbefore de scribed invention for preventing the splitting of laps to every breaker, intermediate, and finisher lapper. If the lap splits when unrolling: in an intermediate or a finisher lapper or in a carding-engine, the split-oil portion adheres to the outer surface of the next inner coil of the lap. The operator must, as soon as possible and as far as he can. rectify this defect in the unw nding. )therwise, the splitting and the adhesion may continue, while the splitting lap makes several rotations about its own axis. The split may tear through the sheet. It may tear across the width of the sheet. By my invention the operative is relieved from the necessity of closely watching the unrollin; laps, from the work of rectifying faras he can the detects due to splitting. and from throwing parts of the split laps into the waste to he worked over. and the waste prevented. In other words. the cost of production is diminished by the use of my invention. The transference of a splitott' portion of the lap from the part of the sheet where it belongs to a dillerout part. of the sheet tends to non-u]iiforinity in the weight per unit of length of the product from the machine. In the usual intermediate and in the usual finisher lapper an evcner is provided and the evener tends to correct suta non-nuiformity. but it will not perfectly correct it. In the usual carding engine there is no evener mechanism and the resulting nouiiniformity of the product is more serious. llhen my invention used the laps do not plit and noiraniformity consequent upon lap'splitting does not occur.

I claun:

l. in means tor ()iWlf'tllilQ the tendency of a fibrous lap to split in machines having coat-tin;- tiber-advancing surfaces, n combination, a support located near such surfaces through, a plurality of fiber-rearranging \VlIQ teeth located in the path of the fibers, and means for attaching the teeth to the support, each of the teeth being separate and independent and each attaching means cmsisting of an integral extension of a tooth having a threaded part adapted to pass through a hole in a washer and a hole in the support and having a portion at an angle with the threaded part adapted to be drawn by a nut against the Washer, a Washer having a hole therethrough, and a nut for the threaded part.

9. In means for obviating the tendency of a fibrous lap to split in machines having a pair of calender-rolls, in combination, a draw-mate located near such rolls and having a plurality of holes therethrough, a plurality of tiber-rearranging wire teeth lo cated in the path of the fibers, and means for attaching the teeth to the draw-plate, each of the teeth being separate and independent and each attaching means consisting of an integral extension of a tooth having a threaded part adapted to pass through a hole in a washer and a hole in the drawplate and having a portion atan angle with the threaded part adapted to be drawn by a nut against the washer, a washer having a hole therethrough, and a nut for the threaded part.

In means for obviating the tendency of a fibrous lap to split in machines having coacting fiber-advancing surfaces, in combination. a support located near such surfaces and having a plurality of holes therethrough, a plurality of fiber-rearranging spring-wire teeth located in the path of the fibers, and means for attaching the teeth of the support, eachof the teeth being separate and independent and each attaching means consisting of an integral extension of a tooth having a threaded part adapted to pass through a hole in a asher and a hole in the support and having a portion at an angle with the threaded part adapted to be draun by a nut into a groove in the Washer, a washer having" a hole therethroagh and having a V-shaped groove radiating from the hole and having feet for contact with the support, and a nut for the threaded part.

4. In means for obviating the tendency of a fibrous lap to split in machines having a pair of calender-rolls, in combination, a draw-plate located near such rolls and havint, a plurality of holes therethroug'h, a plurality of fiber-rear 'anging spring-wire teeth located in the path of the fibers, and means tor attaching the teeth to the draw-plate, each of the teeth being separate and independent and each attaching means consisting of an integral. extension of a tooth having a threaded part adapted to pass through a hole in a washer and a hole in the drawand having a plurality of holes thercl plate and having a portion at an angle with the threaded part adapted to be drawn by In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature 31 m 1t into 1:: hve inhthe riashe', 1:: washer in the presence of two witnesses. mvmg e 0e t eret roug an aving a. V-shaped groove radiating from the hole HAVEN COOK PERHAM' s and having feet radially istant from the Witnesses:

hole for contact with the draw-plate. and a Cmmmne WHITAKER, nut for the threaded part. Invmo D. KIMBALL.

Dept" of this potent may be obtained tor five oentl each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! I'atente, Wuhtngton, D. 0. 

